The Pulse of the Legal Profession
Since 2001 the American Bar Association has commissioned four surveys of the legal profession, including both members and non-members of the ABA. The most recent survey, The Pulse of the Legal Profession is reported in some detail by Stephanie Francis Ward in the October 2007 issue of the American Bar Association Journal. The following is a brief summary of survey responses as included in her report:
RESPONDENTS TO SURVEY:
Type of Pracitice:
Public Sector 138
Solo 209
Small Firm (2-20 lawyers) 184
Medium size form (21-100 76
Large firm (101+) 97
In House 97
Years in Practice.
Less than 3 yeears 76
3-5 years 101
6-9 years 124
10+ years 499
Gender
Male 560
Female 240
Ethnicity
White 654
Nonwhite 146
COSTS RISE, CIVILITY DECLINES
80% "The cost of litigation has become prohibitive in recent years."
69% "Lawyers have become less civil to each other over time."
CAREER SATISFACTION
55% "I am satisfied with my career."
81% "I find the practice of law to be intellectually stimulating."
RECOMMENDING LAW AS A PROFESSION
44% "I would recommend a legal career to a young person."
SATISFACTION IN LAW AND LIFE
68% "Public sector lawyers who report being 'satisfied with my career.' "
44% "Big-firm lawyers who say the same."
BENCH STRENGTH
72% "Public sector lawyers who agree 'the law is becoming increasingly pliticized.'
72% "Public sector lawyers who are 'concerned about the independence of the judiciary.' "
The above is a very brief summary of the responses, commentary, and graphics included in Stephanie Ward's article. Ward, Stephanie Francis. "Pulse of the Legal Profession: 800 lawyers reveal what they think about their lives, their careers and the state of the profession," pages 30-34. ABA Journal (October 2-007). Additional results not included in the article can be found on ABAJournal.com.
